The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just released its 2010 Top Safety picks and Toyota fails to make the grade. Not a single model from the world’s largest auto manufacturer,as determined by sales, or its subsidiaries, made the list. In 2009, Toyota, Lexus and Scion had 11 winners, but failed to come up with one in 2010.

Two nameplates - Subaru and Volkswagen - and three manufacturers - Ford, Subaru, and VW - stand out from the crowd among the winners in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Picks for 2010. All turned in stellar performances in the annual survey of the safest cars on the American road, with multiple models represented.

Ford Motor Company, the only one of the three Detroit automakers to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection this year, has surprised analysts and just about everyone else by reporting a profit of $997 million in the fiscal quarter that ended in September.

There is breaking and good news on GM, Opel and Magna front regarding Opel's sale. Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel, who was scheduled this morning, announced that GM's board supports Opel sale to Magna. GM just said that it has agreed to sell a majority stake in European automaker Opel to a Russian and Canadian consortium. GM will sell 55 percent to Magna.

Sometimes the parts equal more than the whole. This might just be the case for General Motors. On Tuesday, an announcement was made that the decision for GM to remove logo from their vehicles had been made as part of the company’s new focus.

To be more precise that's what WSJ reports today about Chrysler's plans in Mexico. According to the report Chrysler plans to make Fiat 500 cars in Mexico.

Monday's announcement of General Motors' bankruptcy filing drew out fierce criticism from people of all political spectrums who had lots to say about GM's business model, why things went wrong, and what awaits the company in the future.

In the most predictable event in bankruptcy history, GM is finally filing for Chapter 11 this morning. The U.S. Government will wind up owning a majority of the company with plans to inject another $30 billion in order to keep operations going while the creditors hammer out the details during the bankruptcy process. US auto giant General Motors bankruptcy protection is the third largest bankruptcy filing in US history.

At local Chrysler dealerships you may increasingly see "Chrysler dealers going out of business" signs. Recently Chrysler announced dealership closings as a result of the car sales hit by the down economy.

GM dealerships around the nation are awaiting the least of closing of the 1200 car dealerships across the country. GM dealer closing is not surprise, the company had in April announced the goal to reduce the size of it's dealerships.

Chrysler, in a motion filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, indicated that the company wants to eliminate nearly 25% of its dealerships by early next month. The reason given by the company about Chrysler dealership closings is low sales at those dealerships on the closure list. The company noted that 50% of its dealers provide nearly 90% of its sales.